Welcome one and all to this week's Hockey Soapbox. Another
mixed, but ultimately disappointing weekend for the Steelers, as we scuppered
Belfast’s chances, then failed in our #notinourbarn objectives, and had to
watch Cardiff slurping down the tasty gravy right in front of us.
On the panel this particular week are the usual suspects. We
have your co-editors Mark and Tony, Nathan, Fergus, Andy and Eric the
magnificent. So what have the panel had to say this week? Read onwards...
Five words on Friday
Moose the magnificent on road.
Belfast pummelled, Moose stood tall.
Phenomenal Performance By The Moose
We are number one!
Still better away from home!!!!!
Five words on Saturday
White flag, congratulations to Cardiff.
Cardiff took our tasty gravy
Relinquished Title With A Whimper
Here comes the Boom (Fitzy)
Okay maybe we aren't anymore
Still crap at the Arena,!!!!
As travel issues allowed Cardiff to arrive at our Arena
before we did, do you think bad fixture planning contributed to the Cardiff
loss?
- Mark - It certainly didn't help matters. Who in their right mind thinks of a schedule that plays Friday night away in Belfast and at home to Cardiff the next at the business end of the season? Certainly had an adverse effect on us, maybe just maybe have scuppered our hopes of finishing second.
- Mark - That said Cardiff have been hungry all season and are deserved champions. We need to look hard at ourselves and see where it went wrong.
- Andy - Whilst coming back from Belfast wasn't ideal for the game against Cardiff it is just an excuse for losing the game. Cardiff through the season have had to do similar things and have managed to get the result. This year wasn't our year. Hopefully Cardiff will keep the Montieth well-polished for us next season.
- Fergus - Yes it will have had an impact but we can't blame that, we just weren't good enough and league champions proved why they are.
- Eric - I've mentioned on other public sites that as a priority, Simms should concentrate on three things. Scheduling, Scheduling and Scheduling. Yes I know, about ice time availability, but is it just me that thinks some of this season's scheduling has been diabolical. I listened to Thompson's post-game interview against the Devils and he even mentioned it.
- Nathan - I don't think scheduling has anything to do with it. We weren't good enough or consistent enough on the night and haven't been all season. Before the season started we were told that this Steelers team would be fitter, faster, better etc. but I've not seen anything to convince me of this. Every team has to travel. Every team gets injuries. Every team gets fatigued. Every team play back to back games. Deal with it and stop making excuses Tommo, fans aren't stupid and they are starting to get bored with the same old BS coming out of your mouth.
- Tony - Yes. This was always going to be a tricky weekend and Cardiff had a great advantage by getting ahead in the fixtures race early doors this season. However, they probably have a tougher travel schedule than we do over the season, as do Belfast, and it wasn't this game that lost the title - it was defeats at Dundee, Fife, and dropped points against Braehead and Coventry recently that killed us. Competitive again this season, and that’s all I need from my team – winning is just tasty gravy.
- Tony - There's always change in the import ranks and think that will be the case this year too, but no more than normal unless EIHL roster regulations change to accommodate Guildford and Milton Keynes. Move the focus from entertaining, to defensive a bit maybe, but unless we match budgets then we’ve got to recruit smarter or luckier next year.
- Mark - There's gonna be changes definitely. Can't see them happening off ice as we're stuck with Mr No Plan B and the cuddly Swedish assistant. (Face it, Jerry looks like a teddy bear.) On-ice, apart from those already signed up: there will be a lot of changes because of what's happened in the league campaign. We have to re-sign Moose, Desi, Jono and Roy for starters. Then it's horses for courses. Some of the others are playing for jobs now.
- Nathan - This team has proved it can compete with the best in this league as evidenced on Friday in Belfast, and last Sunday vs Cardiff. So what is the reason behind the inconsistencies and dullness of especially the home games? Well it's the Coach of course, and his sidekick Mungo. Our D has been awful this term, obvious to all, so why after 50+ games have the clueless twosome failed to sort it out? For me recruitment was the issue but seeing as PT seemingly has a job for life even if we did have a huge shake up I have no faith in him rectifying the situation. Pressure is on next season Coach. I'm watching you!!!!!!
- Andy - I am sure there will be a few changes at the end of the season. Some will be due to rule changes next year, some enforced where players move on, and some the coach feels need to be changed. If you look at our scoring and goals conceded for the season they are up there with the best. Special teams have let us down this year. This is something I hope the coach will be looking at. It has been hinted at having 2 regular goalies. The only way this works for me is if we carry a spare import and have a Brit back up with spare import sitting being the other goalie. If it isn't done this way then we are reducing the import strength in defence and the forwards. If we can source a J Whistle with an import this negates the problem but I would say this is unlikely.
- Fergus - Big time, new coaching team as far as I'm concerned! The tactics this season have been disgustingly poor and we haven't ever had a plan b. Tom and Jerry might know hockey but they don't know EIHL hockey as well as two part-time player-coaches!
- Eric - It's not a simple answer, and I'm sure Thompson is also deliberating, but on reflection I think I would keep two of the current D core, the two apprentices and maybe 4 or 5 of the offensive players - the rest for me, have either not fit the systems, not performed consistently, not added value for their salary, or have spent too long on the injury bench.
- Eric - Would I keep Thompson and Andersson - No! Would I keep the fitness coach - No! Waste of money and don't see anything he brings to the table. Thompson moans about travel etc. but I see teams that on the ice seem far fitter than us. As for keeping David. Hmm. Well No!! On that one too.
Moose made 50 saves from 52 shots on Friday, has there ever
been a better goal tending performance than this?
- Eric - Moose for me would be the first name signed up. The guy is not the usual goaltender. He is more a rebound/deflection keeper and it's taken best part of the season for the D core to understand him. And they have still let him down constantly all season. The guy has stood on his head this season.
- Tony - Any shut out is better than letting in two goals! He's been on fire for sure against the big teams recently, which bodes well for the playoffs, but it's come too late in the season, and is instantly followed by conceding a handful in the next game. He’s not the messiah, but he’s decent enough for this league.
- Fergus - Proving what he can be when he has a defence playing solidly in front of him.
- Andy - Didn't see Moose's stellar effort Friday night so it is a little hard to compare it to any other goal keeping wonder nights of the past. What I will say is Moose has made several saves this season he has had no business making! He is a sign him for next year for me!
- Nathan - In a word. NO. No there hasn't. In fact Mr Moose is the only thing stopping us from becoming a mid-table team this season. I only hope he'll be here next term.
- Mark - Definitely up there with the best. Best I can say was Christian Bronsard's debut though in 2004. The guy travelled almost all day from Siberia to Sheffield, had just 3 hours sleep then turned in a man of match performance. Some goalie.
If you were a hockey player, which shirt number would you
choose and why?
- Mark - Depends which position: goalie, defence or forward. If I was a goalie I'd wear 30 because of Martin Brodeur, defence would be 4, Scott Stevens and forward (my preferred spot) would be 68 after Jagr. If neither were available then I'll go for 71, my birth year.
- Andy - Not that I will ever have a shirt number as I can't skate for toffee but it would be either 16 or 89. Simple explanation for the choice is that was my age and year my mother died.
- Fergus - 13 - just my lucky number, no reason not to really unless taken then I'd like a number in the 90's.
- Nathan - Number 75 for me. The year I was born.
- Tony - 15 - you can spot it hidden in my Twitter handle, but I don’t think Roysy need worry about me taking over that number, so any single digit would do nicely as I think they look neat.
- Eric - Simple answer. None. I'm ancient. So the only jersey I would pull on would be goal line judge. Even I can push a button.....
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